Scottie Scheffler’s recent triumph at the 2024 Masters not only cemented his status as one of the game’s elite but also set the stage for an enthralling major season. Such was his dominance at Augusta, the bookies have now slashed the odds on the talented American romping to glory in all four majors this term. And such was his composed display in Georgia, it’s not surprising.
Heading into men’s major season, he was already at the top of the betting lists. However, despite being the favorite, he hit the ground running right away in his most recent attempt to claim the coveted Green Jacket. The 27-year-old has been the world number one ever since winning the Masters back in 2022, and after finishing last year’s tournament tied for tenth and eight strokes off the lead, he returned to the course like a man possessed. He shot a blistering six under par on day one, just one shot behind leader Bryson DeChambeau, and he wasn’t about to finish so low down the rankings again.
Scheffler Claims the Green Jacket
On day two, he held his nerve to shoot a par for the course, while the overnight leader finished one over, tying him for the lead. From there, he never looked back. One under on day three saw him take the outright lead before a scintillating 68 on Championship Sunday saw him streak clear of the opposition, eventually finishing 11 under and four strokes clear of runner-up Ludvig Åberg. The rest of the opposition for a further three shots adrift of the Swede.
Such was his dominance at Augusta that online golf betting odds have now made him a short-priced +350 favorite for all three remaining majors this year. In fact, one popular bookmaker has opened up a special market priced at +8000 for him to win all four majors this year. To put that into perspective former major winners Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, and Justin Rose have the same odds to win the US Open alone.
So with that in mind, who will be Scheffler’s three closest competitors throughout the rest of the major season? Let’s find out.
Jon Rahm
The man who pipped the reigning champion to the Green Jacket at last year’s Masters was, of course, Spaniard Jon Rahm. He had a career year in 2023, finishing four strokes clear of veterans Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson. He very nearly became the first man to win multiple majors in the same calendar year since 2018 however, he ended up having to settle for second place at the Open Championship thanks to Brian Harman’s blistering performance in Liverpool.
The Basque Country-born star has become known for his explosive power and fierce determination in recent years, Both were on full display as he claimed the US Open in 2021, his first and up until last April only major triumph. He had to bride the final two holes to be victorious that year, a task he passed with flying colors, and he will be among to do the same once again later this year.
Rahm’s playing style is marked by his formidable driving ability, consistently ranking him among the longest hitters on tour. Yet, what truly sets him apart is his adeptness on the greens; a skill that has seen him conquer courses designed to test the very limits of the game’s best. The bookies have made him the second favorite in all three remaining majors this year, pricing him at +1000 for the Open and +1200 for the other two Stateside showpieces.
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy has long been hailed as a golfing prodigy. Bursting onto the scene as a teenager, McIlroy has accumulated four major championships, including twice winning the PGA Championship. He battled back from a capitulation in his first attempt to win the Masters back in 2011 and despite becoming the most recognizable golfer on the planet, he has remained without a major championship in the last decade.
However, in recent years he has gotten back to his very best. His return to form has been marked by a series of commanding performances, highlighted by his victory at the 2022 FedEx Cup. The Northern Irishman has also come close to ending his length major drought, finishing second at both the Masters and the Open in 2022 as well as finishing second at last year’s US Open.
Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka’s path to becoming a five-time major champion is a testament to his resolve and mastery under pressure. The America’s approach to the majors is methodical, treating them as battles of endurance and strategy. His physical fitness, a result of rigorous training routines, gives him an edge in outlasting the competition over the grueling four-day tournaments.
Koepka’s victories, including back-to-back U.S. Open wins in 2017 and 2018, showcase his ability to perform at his peak when the stakes are highest. He did suffer from several injury woes throughout the early 2020s but he returned to peak fitness and form last year as he claimed the PGA Championship for the third time as well as finished tied for second at the Masters. If he continues in a similar vein, expect him to be in the running for silverware once more this term, especially the US Open and the PGA Championship, tournaments that he has dominated in years gone by.
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